Color fountain for printing presses



Nov. 22, 1938.

T. G. RIORDAN 2,137,590 COLOR FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Oct.14, 1957 s Sheets-Shed 1 a In ventor jkaizmsflfizardazz.

A itorneys Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 5Claims.

This invention relates to a fountain for printing presses, the generalobject of the invention being to provide a unit including a containerfor the ink, an ink spreader roller and a rubber roller receiving theink from the spreader roller, with valve means for controlling the flowof ink from the container to the spreader roller, the unit being soformed that it can be readily put in place on a press with the rubberroller substituted for one of the rollers of the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary member forintermittently feeding the ink from the container to the spreaderroller.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a view looking toward one end of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the other end thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View through the invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 5 is a view of the feed roll.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the lineI'I of Figure 3 to show the tension means for the valves.

In these drawings the numeral I indicates a pair of end members betweenwhich extends the ink container or hopper 2 which is formed with a flatforward portion on its bottom with the rest of the bottom slopingupwardly and rearwardly so as to direct the ink to the flat portion.This flat portion is provided with a longitudinally extending row ofspaced openings 3 each of which is preferably of circular shape and anelongated block 4 extends between the end pieces and has receiving inkfrom the hopper when the flat part is uppermost and then as the rollerrevolves it carries this ink to the bottom of the bore 5 which opens outthrough the bottom of the block 4 and deposits the ink upon the spreaderroller 8 extending between the end pieces and suitably journaledtherein, such as by having its trunnions passing through the slots 9 inthe end pieces and journaled in the plates Ill fastened to the outerfaces of said end pieces. The trunnions of the small roller I passthrough holes in the end pieces and the upper edges of the plates I0pass along the lower parts of these holes.

A rubber covered roller I I extends between the end pieces and contactsthe roller 8 to receive the ink therefrom and the ends of the metal coreI2 of this roller I I rotatably engage the cylindrical portions I3 ofthe flanged members I4 which pass through holes in the front lowerportions of the end pieces I and have their flanges bolted to the outerfaces of the end pieces as shown at l5. By making these bearing membersI3 and I4 of cylindrical form and the core I2 in the form of a cylindera rod can be passed through these parts and the ends of this rod arefitted in the sockets of the printing press after the ink roller of thepress has been removed as the roller I I takes the place of this regularroller of the press.

A shaft I6 is journaled in the rear part of the end pieces and has alarge gear IT on one end thereof meshing with a small gear I8 on one endof the roller 8 and at the other end of the shaft I6 is a small gear I9meshing with a large gear 20 on one end of the small roller 1. Therubber covered roller I I is driven by its contact with a drum of theprinting press and this roller I I then drives the steel spreader roller8 and this roller 8 drives the ink shaft 1 through the gears I8, I'I,shaft 6 and gears I9 and 20. Thus it will be seen that the inventionneeds no driving means as it is driven from one of the rollers or drumsof the printing press and this makes it very easy to move the devicefrom one part of the press to another.

A valve rod 22 is provided for each opening 6 and these rods extendthrough the rear part of the block 4 into the small parts of theopenings 6 and they have threaded portions passing through threadedholes in a bar 23 having its ends connected with rear portions of theend pieces .I. A winged head 24 is fastened to the rear end of the rod22 for turning it for moving the rod longitudinally so that its frontend will control the passage of ink through the small part of theopening 6 and this enables the amount of ink passing through the openingto be regulated. A

spring strip passes in a zig-zag manner across the valve rods 22, asshown in Figure 7, the strip passing under alternate rods and over theother rods as shown in this figure so as to hold the rods under tensionand thus prevent them from turning accidentally.

A scraper plate 26 is connected to the rear part of the block 4 and hasa beveled lower edge engaging the roller 8, as shown in Figure 3.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a one-page portable colorfountain which can be easily and quickly placed on a printing press byremoving one of the rollers of the press and sub= stituting the fountaintherefor, the rubber covered roller I! taking the place of the removedroller. As will be seen the ink from the hopper 2 will pass through theopenings 3 into the openings 6 and pass the inner ends of the valve rods22, which, of course, should be adjusted to permit the correct amount ofink to pass by them. Then this ink is taken by the roll I at intervalsand delivered onto the metal roll 8 which delivers the ink to the rubbercovered roller I I.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

l A printing press fountain comprising a frame, a hopper carried by theframe and having a plurality of openings in its bottom, a distributorroller carried by the frame, means for conveying ink from the openingsupon the distributor roller and a rubber covered roller carried by theframe and receiving the ink from the distributor roller, said rubbercovered roller and its bearing being of hollow construction and adaptedto receive a supporting member which is connected with parts of aprinting press.

2. A fountain for a printing press comprising a supporting frame,bearing members of hollow construction carried by the ends of the frame,a rubber covered roller of cylindrical construction supported by saidbearing members, said mem- P bers and the roller adapted to have a rodpass through the same with its ends fitted in the sockets of one of therollers of a printing press after such roller has been removed from thepress, a metal roller journaled in the frame and contacting the rubbercovered roller, a member supported in the frame above the metal rollerand having a bore passing therethrough, the lower part of which opensout through the bottom of the member which is contacted by the top ofthe metal roller, a small roller rotatably arranged in the bore andhaving a flattened part, means for rotating the small roller and themetal roller from the rubber covered roller, a hopper supported by theframe, openings leading from the hopper to the bore, valve rodsextending into said openings, manually operated means for adjusting therods and means for holding the rods under tension.

3. A printing press fountain comprising a frame, a hopper carried by theframe and having a plurality of openings in its bottom, a distributorroller carried by the frame, means for conveying ink from the openingsupon the distributor roller, a rubber covered roller carried by theframe and receiving the ink from the distributor roller, said rubbercovered roller being driven from-a part of the printing press and saidrubber covered roller rotating the distributor roller and means foractuating the ink conveying means from the distributor roller.

4, A fountain for a printing press comprising a supporting frame, ahopper carried by the frame and having a plurality of openings in itsbottom, a member carried by the frame and having openings thereinregistering with the first-mentioned openings, and said member having abore, a roller passing through the bore and having a flattened part forforming a space for receiving ink from the hopper when said flattenedpart comes under the openings, a distributor roller receiving the inkfrom the first-mentioned roller, means for rotating the roller havingthe flattened part from the distributor roller, a rubber covered rollercontacting the distributor roller and valve means for regulating theamount of ink passing through the openings leading to the bore.

5. A fountain for a printing press comprising a supporting frame, ahopper carried by the frame and having an opening in its bottom, amember carried by the frame and having an opening therein registeringwith the first-mentioned opening and said member having a bore, a rollerpassing through the bore and having a flattened part for forming a spacefor receiving ink from the hopper when said flat part comes under theopening, a distributor roller receiving the ink from the first-mentionedroller and a third roller contacting the distributor roller forreceiving ink therefrom.

THOMAS G. RIORDAN.

